East Penn Classes To Start Despite No New Contract

Classes will start as planned in East Penn on Sept. 4, although a new contract for district teachers has not been settled.

East Penn Superintendent William J. Leary Jr. last night made the announcement and the first public statement on contract negotiations.

And as Dr. Leary spoke at the East Penn School Board meeting, the general membership of the East Penn Education Association (the teachers union) was meeting in the high school auditorium, voting to report to school on schedule next Tuesday - but promising a "re-evaluation" after a mediation session two days after that.

The current contract expires Saturday.

The union meeting, which began an hour earlier than the school board's 8 p.m. meeting, was not open to the public, but EPEA President Jerold Dougherty said later last night that the EPEA "passed a motion."

"We will report for work next Tuesday under the present terms of the agreement," Dougherty said. "The school board offered to extend the old contract.

"We will re-evaluate our position pending the outcome of a Thursday, Sept. 5, mediation session at 4 p.m. After Thursday, we do not know what will happen," he added.

Dougherty said 250 of the 318 EPEA members attended last night's meeting. He said they are "disappointed we don't have a new contract."

Leary said in his general statement, "As of this date, a contract has not been finalized between the school board and the East Penn Education Association.

"As superintendent, I want to inform you that schools will open for a new school year as usual on Wednesday, Sept. 4. That will be the first student day. Buses will run their regular schedule," he said in a short, prepared statement.

Leary said negotiations are continuing under the direction of state mediator Leonard Kern Jr. "who has advised that any public remarks will come from him."

He added after the meeting that the remarks "are my view, from the best knowledge I have."

Neither Dougherty nor Leary could provide further comment on the status of negotiations or issues involved.

When contacted earlier, Leonard Kern Jr. told The Morning Call, "Negotiations are going smoothly as far as I'm concerned. I'm always optimistic." He would not comment on negotiation issues or stumbling blocks.

In other matters last night, school directors accepted, with regret, the resignation of Dr. Marilyn Miller, gifted specialist and director of Project ProCEED, the district's staff development program. Miller has accepted an appointment as the assistant director of basic instructional services at the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit.